The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth United Church of Christ

THE SPIRE December 2015

Silent Night, Holy Night

There is no mystery why Silent Night is

loved so deeply. With simple words and a

haunting melody, it captures both the joy and

the solemn beauty of Christmas. And it is

these two qualities — joy and beauty — that

inspire all of our worship and fellowship

activities this Advent and Christmas season at

the Congregational Church of South

Dartmouth.

I extend a heartfelt personal invitation to

you to share the great joy and beauty of a

Christmas worship service with us. Come and

be inspired by the promises of Scripture,

restore your spirits with beautiful carols, and

delight in the beauty of the sanctuary bathed in

candlelight and decorated so beautifully with

greens and candles. Make new friendships,

renew long-standing friendships, and

strengthen family ties as we gather to share

our most cherished traditions.

We are offering two different Christmas

Eve services this year so that everyone will

find a time that fits with your own family

traditions. Especially intended to allow

families with young children to attend, we will

offer a Candlelight Service of Lessons and

Carols at 5 pm on Christmas Eve, Thursday,

December 24, 2015. Featuring some of the

best loved of all Christmas carols, the familiar

words of the Christmas story, and the

beautifully decorated and candle-lit sanctuary,

it is a wonderful opportunity to invite your

friends and neighbors to share the joy. Come

and join in singing the familiar carols, listen to

the talented musicians, and take the time to

reflect on the true meaning of the season.

For those who prefer the more traditional

hour, we will also offer a candlelight service at

10 pm. This service is also based on the

beloved tradition of Lessons and Carols. It

has also proven to be especially popular as a

reunion time for our young women and men

who will be home from college.

At both of these Christmas Eve services

as well as on every Sunday morning, we

gather to hear a word of hope, to be uplifted

by song, and to enjoy the genuine fellowship

that are the hallmarks of our church. The

sanctuary is already decorated beautifully, and

everyone — member, former member, friend,

and first time visitor — is assured a hearty

welcome at all services.

I hope to see you during this holy season.

Grace and Peace, Doug

From Pastor Doug

Page 2 The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC

Reprinted from the

“History of the Sanctuary”

CHANDELIER

Imagine sea horses in our sanctuary! Look up to see

them flying in our chandelier!

Between 1876-1880, Mr. John Southworth of

Springfield, MA, gave this chandelier hanging in the

center of our church to the church. It was originally

lighted by kerosene lamps.

Many years ago, Nancy DeWolf’s mother Eliza

wrote this poem about these wonderful creatures to

Joan Crocker.

When sea horses roam the sky

They must have wings if they will fly.

While in the water they do swim.

Agreed – they use their tiny fin.

Now here’s the question posed by me

And soon to be settled, I hope, by thee.

When in church you sit and ponder,

Gently raise your eyes up yonder.

Can those fins so squat and fat,

Elongate to look like that?

In response to Eliza, Joan wrote this poem in July

1960.

Although it did not seem discreet

To tell you this on Middle Street,

Sea horses do have finny wings

To swim through waves and flip and things.

It’s only when they’re dead and skinless,

That they’re consequently finless.

Page 3 The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC

How Far To Christmas

How far is it to Christmas Day?

The journey’s just as long

as taking time to listen

to a joyful angel song.

It’s just as far as one can go

in doing a loving deed

that helps someone feel better or that

meets their special need.

For Christmas is a journey

that the heart makes every

year.

It starts right with your family

and those you hold so dear.

It travels on to strangers

’round the world to everyone

with the message that God loves us

and that’s why he’s sent his Son!

—Peggy Ferrell

Outreach A reminder that wrapped gifts for Holiday Hope are to be delivered on Dec. 8 between 8AM and 5PM at Old Gifford Marine, 676 Dartmouth Street, between the Post Office and Rite Aid. If you are unable to drop off your gift on that day, please let Chris Baldwin know so we can arrange pick up.

Beginning Sunday Dec 6, our Holiday Hope Tree will amazingly change into a Mitten Tree. We are looking to decorate it with new children's mittens, scarves, hats and

gloves that will be donated to Dartmouth School children through Potter School. There will only be three Sundays to bring in donations. We are hoping that the Sunday School children can join us in this effort.

HANDYMAN WANTED

The church has recently engaged a cleaning

service rather than employing a custodian.

We are in the need of a Handyman to make

minor repairs, do some small paint jobs and

work with the cleaning service to maintain the

church. Duties will also include setup and

storage of tables and chairs and occasionally

opening and locking the church. We expect the

position to require 5-7 hours a week with a

flexible schedule. Compensation is $15-18 per

hour, depending upon experience. If you or

someone you know is interested in the position,

please contact the church office.

Page 4 The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Notes from the Religious Education Ministry

When does Advent become an adventure?

For us it may begin with the “Flat Jesus” project presented on November 29.

We invite students, families, the entire congregation to be mindful of Jesus’ presence as we journey on the

road to Bethlehem to greet our newborn king—again.

Adopting the theme of the Flat Stanley stories in which the main character is sent, photographed, journaled

about in various locations, we do the same with a cut out Jesus figure which we will distribute during and

after worship for those who wish to participate in this project. Our hope is that this visual reminder of Jesus

with us will result in an adventure both spiritual and fanciful.

We look forward to receiving photos or reports of Jesus throughout the year on his amazing adventures with

us!

An Invitation to our high school youth to continue the connection to the Sunday School and youth

activities. Please come to serve as a mentor in grades pre-school through grade 4 or to participate in a

discussion group and Bible study with grades 5-8. We will explore our journey in faith through the seasons

of Epiphany and Lent, rejoice in the Easter story and Pentecost, and conclude with a study of Paul’s letters

aka “Reading Other People’s Mail.”

Dates to Note for Sunday School

Dec. 6 Communion Sunday, students

report to Sunday School

classrooms for the first part of

worship

Dec 13 Regular Sunday School Classes

Dec. 20 Christmas Sunday, Family

Worship

Dec. 27 Family Worship

Jan. 3 Sunday School resumes;

students are invited to participate

in a group Epiphany Project in

Hay Hall.

Page 5 The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC

Church Council News

The Council met on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 for the monthly meeting. The important items discussed

included:

Bidding farewell to Douglas Cederberg who has so ably led our Religious Education efforts for all ages

for the past year. He expressed his hope for many opportunities for collaboration and sharing of the

Christian spirit between our congregations as he moves to accept the position of Head Pastor at Pilgrim

United Church of New Bedford.

Kathy Pappas reported that Religious Education has decided they are not going to pursue a search for

Doug Cederberg’s replacement at this time. There are several reasons for this decision: He has left the

members of this ministry with leadership skills; they are fully staffed; they want to get a better idea as to

how many children will actually be attending on a regular basis in order to target a future search. There

was a discussion regarding how long a time period would be needed to find a successor for Doug

Cederberg. Council agreed to revisit this in February/March and determine what a timeline might be.

Kevern Joyce reported for finance committee saying that the budget remains on track for this year. He

also updated Council about plans for caring for the physical plant in the wake of our custodian’s depar-

ture. A cleaning service has been hired for weekly cleaning and occasional deeper cleaning. It is still

within the budget to hire a handy man/woman for 6 or 7 hours per week in addition to the cleaning ser-

vice. If anyone knows of someone who would like to do this type of work please let Kevern know. Coun-

cil was sad to learn that Jack Paradise will be stepping down from Properties at the end of December. This

means that we need a new head of Properties. If anyone is interested in this position please let Margo or

Kevern know. Finally, Kevern reported that the roof on the south side of the building has been replaced

for $3,500.

Jim Forbush reported that human resources is in the midst of receiving surveys with the goal of finishing

by the end of the month. Margo Moore (Moderator), Warren Hathaway (PRC), and Jim Forbush (HR)

will organize the feedback in December and then review it with Doug in January before making a report

to the congregation.

Kate Ouellete, speaking for the Women’s Guild reported that the office hallway would be painted in Janu-

ary since the Guild has additional funds available. The new lighting installation will begin in a couple of

weeks. The Guild is looking to replace the rugs in the stairwell and hallway, purchase new flatware for

the kitchen, as well as greens to decorate the Lower Social Hall for Christmas and early winter. In addi-

tion, Kate noted that the Holiday Fair had about 300 attendees. A new feature, Santa’s Attic, netted about

$500 and the entire event netted about $1,500 total.

Jane Rioux presented Care Giving’s new Rides Policy to council. Council voted unanimously in favor of

the policy, which will be available in the church office for anyone interested. Jane also reported that she

delivered the hats and scarves made by the Prayer Shawl group and blessed the week before at Sunday

Service to the nurse at the Central Administration of the New Bedford school system to be donated where

they are most needed.

Next council meeting: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.

Page 6 The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC

A few of

the

Sunday

School

Children

displaying

their “flat”

Jesus

creations

that they

made in

Sunday

School

Page 7 The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC

Coffee Hour —Linda Paradise, Ray Lantz and Doug Fogg

Page 8 The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC

IT IS TIME TO ORDER YOUR

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

Christmas Poinsettias are $9.00. Please return your order form and check or cash (please make checks out to “The Congregational Church”). And send to: Nancy DeWolf 24 Middle Street South Dartmouth, MA 02748

Or place it in the collection plate at worship on Sunday mornings, or bring to the church office.

Orders MUST BE IN by December 13th.

Our Christmas Memorial is Sunday, December 20, 2015

NAME________________________________________________________ IN MEMORY OF________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ FLOWER DISTRIBTUION:

___ I will pick-up ___ Discretion of the Chairman COLOR: ___ Marble ___ Red ___White

Page 9 The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC

Wedding Anniversaries are listed in the Spire every five years for the first 50, and then each

year thereafter!

In Whistling in the Dark (HarperOne), Fred-erick Buechner compares Advent to the mo-ments right before a symphony conductor raises the baton to begin a much-anticipated performance. “You hold your breath to lis-ten,” he writes. “You are aware of the beating of your heart. The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it hap-pens. Advent is the name of that moment.” During December, silence can seem elusive, Buechner admits. But “if you concentrate just for an instant, far off in the deeps some-where you can feel the beating of your heart. For all its madness and lostness, not to men-tion your own, you can hear the world hold-ing its breath.”

Pastoral Concerns

Please don’t forget to call or email the church office

with information on any hospital admissions or pas-

toral concerns. Thank you for helping us stay in tune

to the needs of our church family.

Betsy & Norman Silcox 57 Years

December 13, 1958

We would like to thank the Ladie’s Guild and particularly Sonja and Gardiner White for all their help with the memorial service reception for Warren, and to Pastor Doug for his guidance with putting the service together and for leading it for us.

The McCollester family

WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP

THE FAMILY OF ANNE MITCHELL

IN OUR PRAYERS

Page 10 The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC

The Congregational Church Monthly Calendar

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

Choir 7-8:30 pm

3 4 5

6 Second Sunday in Advent 10am Worship Confirmation Mtg 11:00

Choir 9:15

7 Boy Scouts

8 9 Choir 7-8:30 pm

Girl Scouts

10 11 12

13 Third Sunday in Advent 10am Worship

Poinsettias Order Deadline

Choir 9:15

14 Boy Scouts

15 7pm Council Meeting

16 Choir 7-8:30 pm

Girl Scouts

17

18

19

20 Fourth Sunday in Advent 10am Worship Family Worship Choir 9:15

21 Boy Scouts

22

23 Choir 7-8:30 pm

24 Christmas Eve

5 pm & 10 pm Lessons & Carols Worship

25 Christmas Day

26

27 10am Family Worship Choir 9:15

28 Boy Scouts

29 30 Choir 7-8:30 pm

31

December 2015

Page 11 The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC

November Flowers Were

Given By:

November 8th The McCollester Family in loving memory of

Warren McCollester.

November 15th Helga Edvardsen-Dyck and Gerald Dyck in loving

memory of Arne and Thelma Edvardsen and Walter and Martha Dyck.

November 22nd

David and Kate Fentress in memory of Jeanne and Wendel Fentress and Gretchen Fentress and Richard

Needham.

November 29th In loving memory of Paul Robbins by wife Betty

and son Eric.

Special dates

• Second Sunday of Advent, December 6, 2015 • Third Sunday of Advent, December 13, 2015 • Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20, 2015 • First Day of Winter, December 21, 2015 • Christmas Eve, December 24, 2015 • Christmas Day, December 25, 2015 • New Year’s Eve/Watch Night, December 31, 2015

I would like to thank Jack Paradise for all

the help he has given me at the church

while he has served as property chairman

for many years. He has always gone

above and beyond the call of duty and

his help has been invaluable to me. He

always took such pride and great care in

everything he did for this church and also

the parsonage. I could always count on

him to help with whatever the problem

was, big or small. He would regularly

check on the church to make sure every-

thing was up to speed. He was always

there to help me when all the inspections

came up with the Town and State. I have

enjoyed every minute working with Jack

and will miss his joyful presence here as

our property chairman, and again I thank

him for all his hard work. It has truly

been a pleasure!

Robin Lake

The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth United Church of Christ 17 Middle St., PO Box 80608 South Dartmouth, MA 02748-0608 http://congochurchsd.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Rev. Douglas Stivison stivison@earthlink.net

Robin Lake, Office Administrator congochurch@comcast.net

Church Telephone: 508-993-6676

The Spire Newsletter is available in paper form. If you would like a copy mailed to your home please let us know at 508/993-6676

or at congochurch@comcast.net or leave a note in the church office.

Christmas Worship Services

December 24th

Christmas Eve Services

5 pm and 10 pm

Please Join Us